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Portrait
Guest
Dear Roy5,
Cordial greetings dear friend. I should like to reply to your comments above.
Liberal Protestantism is decidedly unattractive because it delights in debunking or rethinking the fundamental tenets of Christian orthodoxy, shared by all Christians, and leads to moral relativism; a wishy-washy sort of religion that is totally effete and unfit for purpose as regards meeting the pressing needs of our troubled age.
What is so very unappealing about being told what to believe? That is surely more an anti-authoritarian issue; it reflects the desire of fallen man to live his life on his own terms and to construct his own belief system. Sometimes this problem is so deep-seated that even when convinced of the error of his ways, doctrinally or morally, man continues with obdurate independence to scratch and claw for autonomy. Moreover, the alternative of going solo and “thinking and let think” leads one along a very subjective path to an ultimate quagmire of competing opinions and often bizzare insights, far removed from authentic and apostolic Christianity. In short it leads to both moral laxity and doctrinal bedlam, witness the terminal decline of all the mainline Protestant denominations. If John Wesley, for example, could observe the deplorable state of modern liberal Methodism he would surely turn in his grave and repent that he ever advocated his “Think and let think” policy.
In our rebellious age, with its intense dislike of dogmatism, especially in religious matters, it is exceedingly difficult for men to acknowledge the sin of defiant independence as the root of all their problems. Nevertheless, this is the very cause of all our ills and it is of no use brushing the matter under the carpet and seeking to rationalize the problem by offering specious explanations.
When we contrast the manifestly obvious uncertainties of private judgement then, and then only, can we see the appeal of the infallible and authoritative Catholic Church. The fragmented condition of Protestantism and the unbroken unity of Rome is apparent even to the most casual unbiased observer. Men are confronted today, as indeed they always have been, with a multiplicity of rival opinions and the infallible guide that leads men to a common conviction as they share in the life of the one true Fold under the one Shepherd. The so-called dissentiant voices within the Roman obedience who argue against and sadly reject the teaching of the Magisterium, do not destabalise the unity of the Catholic Church one bit. These dissentiant voices are just that, they are not the Magisterium and hence have no authority whatsoever. All this demostrates is that the Church contains some arrogant and rebellious men who will not submit to the authority of their Church.
BTW, none of this is a matter of opinion or personal taste, but a self-evident truth which emerges from the character of God. Now just as we would infer from the justice of God that deception by Him is inconceivable, so we may likewise infer from God’s love for His Church and His high purposes for it that is inconceivable that He should leave it to fall into error and fragment into a tragic multiplicity of denominations. Thus we can clearly see that a visible guide and an authoritative Magisterium is an inevitable consequence of the character and purposes of God.
Warmest good wishes,
Portrait
Pax
Stop for a minute and ask yourself, how long will you live without food? without protection from the elements (clothing & shelter)? Air and water are essential - BUT they are not the only essentials. Maintaining human life is complex - and, it must be realized that following Christ is also complex. While we can all say, “Oh, no, I just follow Christ and everything else takes care of itself” - I submit this is a most dangerous delusion.
